Pa. man held without bail for violating protective order in Forest Hill

BRYNA ZUMER, bzumer@theaegis.com

A Pennsylvania man continues to be jailed in Harford County for allegedly violating a protective order by accosting a woman in Forest Hill, after two judges refused to grant him bail in the case.

David W. Forrester, 52, of the 500 block of Schoolhouse Road in Kennett Square, Pa., was arrested May 19.

He allegedly went to the victim's home in the 1900 block of Esther Court at about 8:15 p.m. that day and, when she opened the back door to tell him to leave, he allegedly ran into the home, according to charging documents.

The victim told police Forrester allegedly took her phone and, when she tried to run onto the deck to scream for help, he allegedly pulled her back inside.

The woman said a neighbor must have heard the commotion and called 911.

When Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies tried to apprehend Forrester, he allegedly began running through the tree line but stopped when police ordered him to.

Forrester was initially held without bail and was then denied bail by District Court Judge Mimi Cooper during a hearing on May 20, court records show.

He had a second bail hearing in Harford County District Court Friday afternoon, where Judge Susan Hazlett also declined to give him bail.

When Hazlett asked why Forrester was back in court, a public defender said he had requested reconsideration because Forrester is supporting a child and family members who would be responsible for seeing Forrester gets to court were unable to come to Bel Air for the first hearing. In the courtroom Friday were Forrester's grandparents, a sister and a nephew.

Hazlett was not willing to alter her colleague's earlier decision. "I've read the charging documents and must base my decision on the facts as alleged, and he will continue to be held without bail," the judge said.

Forrester has a trial date of June 6 in District Court, according to court records.